GS INNER 1 · political azadi (independence) from Britain, but rather to gain true swaraj (liberation and self-rule). Gandhi wanted all those who believed in swaraj : (1) to reject

GANDHI SAMAGAMGANDHI SMRITI AND DARSHAN SAMITI

Vinoba Seva Pratisthan

Why "Gandhi Samagam" ?This GANDHI SAMAGAM had planned to organize as a Memorial of 90 years of Gandhiji & 60 years of Vinobaji first visit to Odisha

His Spirit

We live in troubled times. Ethics are a defunct concept. Given a choice, many would choose to be on

the side that wins, even if it calls for wanton bloodshed.

Mahatma Gandhi's vision of the ideal community worked on the principles of total acceptance of all

faiths, and living together in harmony. Today, in a society that is growing farther apart, there might be a

need to reconsider the Gandhian way of life, and develop a sense of belonging.

In his principle of non-violence Gandhi introduced technique of resistance to evil and untruth. His

Satyagraha is inspired by boundless love and compassion. It is opposed to sin, not sinner, the evil, not

evil doer. For him truth was God and in that sense he was man of God. Truth is not yours or mine. It is

neither Western nor Eastern.

In India as also in so many countries of the world, women have woken up to the injustice meted out to

them and are seen fighting that injustice in nonviolent demonstrations. The Dalits and Adivasis are also

found to be demonstrating against injustice in a disciplined and non-violent manner. I believe that

Gandhi lives on in all these.

If we are under the impression that the Gandhian age is over because 50 years have passed since

Gandhi's assassination, we are wrong. It is quite likely that the Gandhian era is just commencing, that

what we see are the first indications of that new beginning. Tomorrow belongs to Gandhi. Wherever

there is resistance against the forces of death, Gandhi is present. About this, we must firmly convince

ourselves .

• Nelson Mendela re-invented India in South Africa with Gandhi and his principles, in his heart and

mind.

• U.S. defence secretary has suggested and advised that Palestinians should adopt Gandhian

principles. He further said, if they adopt ways of Gandhi, they could in fact, make an enormous change

very quickly; I believe the power of individuals demonstrating peacefully is enormous.

• U.S. President said, his greatest dream could have been a dinner with Mahatma Gandhi

• Similarly, after demolition of world trade centre youth of America have formed an organization,

named as 'we want peace no war' and want to start a new dialogue, to replace hatred by propagating

friendship among the nations and different communities.

• United Nations has declared this decade as the Decade of Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the

children of the world.

His Assurance

And Gandhi has reassured us, saying: “I am not going to keep quiet even after I die."

His Principles

Complete unity and integrity of body, mind and soul in the individual human being.

• All social action should be governed by the same simple set of moral values, of which the main

elements are selflessness, non-attachment, non-violence and active service.

iZ jó bMaû^ I iZý ^òKUùe _j•ôaûe cûMð ùjCQò @jòõiû True non-violence is mightier than mightiest violence1



• No society, state or any other institution has any worth or importance apart from its part in

contributing to the growth of the individuals of which it is composed.

• Means are at least as important as, and often even more important than, ends. It is, of course,

desirable that ends should be good and reasonable. But they merely give a direction to life while the

means adopted constitute life itself.

• Faith in God is the foundation of all moral values.

He lives with us in his principles; he lives in us who live on his principles

His Call

In his book Hind Swaraj (1909), Gandhi sought to clarify that the meaning behind swaraj much more

than simply “wanted English rule without the Englishman; the tiger's nature but not the tiger." The crux of

his argument cantered on the belief that the socio-spiritual underpinnings of British political, economic,

bureaucratic, legal, military, and educational institutions were inherently unjust, exploitative and

alienating.

The call for Swaraj represents a genuine attempt to regain control of the 'self' - our self-respect, self-

responsibility, and capacities for self-realization - from institutions of dehumanization. As Gandhi states,

"It is swaraj when we learn to rule ourselves." The real goal of the freedom struggle was not only to secure

political azadi (independence) from Britain, but rather to gain true swaraj (liberation and self-rule).

Gandhi wanted all those who believed in swaraj : (1) to reject and wholly uproot the British raj (rule)

from within themselves and their communities; and, (2) to regenerate new reference points, systems,

and structures that enable individual and collective self-development. This regeneration was to grow

from the strengths, perspectives, wisdom and experiences of people living in village India, rather than

from cities in Britain, America, and even in India for that matter. Understanding the real 'Self', and its

relation to communities and society, is critical to the project of attaining swaraj.

We Today!!

How is this relevant for us today? We feel that we experience a tremendous crisis, one

overwhelming in its scale and pace of growth. While it is easy to get caught up in the symptoms of this

crisis (the brutal violence, the enormous inequities, the extinction of cultures and languages, the

degradation of the environment), it is equally, if not more, important to understand its roots. We must

creatively analyze the content and the consequences of our current economic, political, social, and

educational systems, without reverting to a romanticized past of so-called untouched or pristine

traditions.

From these critical reflections, we must generate new spaces, systems, and processes - based on

moral and holistic visions of human potential and human progress - which can lead us out of the global

self-destruction which engulfs us. Throughout it all, we must consider and negotiate our own roles,

while asking ourselves how we are either working for solutions or contributing to making the crisis

worse. Thus, today, we recognize Gandhi's concept of swaraj integral to three parallel action-reflection stagendas for the 21 century.

• Decolonization of the Mind: Understanding the Roots of the Crisis Before Us;

• Revaluation and Critical Traditionalism: We Have to Learn from the Past, but We cannot Go Back;

• Creative Regeneration: Growing New Ways Forward

ù~ùZùaùk @ûùc ^òRKê gûi^ Keò gòLôaû, ùiùZùaùk jó ÊeûRý _ûAaû A born democrat is a born disciplinarian2



The SAMAGAM

So Gandhi isn't gone. He is around us as an eternal furtive onlooker. Celebrating Gandhi is like

celebrating the universal human values. Gandhi Samagam is to commemorate his eternal presence. This

ceremonious occasion is to awaken the new generation about Bapu and his contribution to the world of

thought and action.

Gandhi has been and will continue to be an enigma unless we decipher his importance in terms of his

daring endeavours, experiments about connecting public policies to individual and social welfare.

In short, Gandhism is about translating empirical spirituality into secular welfare and individual

development.

Time has come to understand Gandhi beyond ceremony and through the substance of his relevant today. He

was one person who always thought ahead of his time and thus is the most modern Indian.

The salient characteristics of Gandhian ideology are its empirical and utilitarian nature that would

culminate in maximal general welfare.

And that is the prime aim of organizing this first-of-its-kind in the State a grand GANDHI SAMAGM

Objectives

In the grand Samagam, we look into the objectives so as:

• Invite everyone who believes in the spirit of Gandhi and Vinoba, to share a common living with

Gandhian Fellows;

• To create a platform of people and institutions having common thoughts and views for a

collective living with peace, harmony and universal brotherhood;

• To endeavour to revive, promote, spread and reinforce Gandhian values of truth, non-violence,

self reliance, swadeshi and sustainable development; and

• To endeavour to infuse the spirit of Gandhi deep into the prevailing social, cultural, economic and

political life of the society we live in;

Expected Impact

• Fellowship of over 500 Gandhians from across the country;

• Create Awareness among participants and a pulse among the general public on the relevance of Mahatma stGandhi in the 21 century

• Development of a plan of action to implement as well as carry forward Bapu's principles, ideas and

constructive activities to inspire the generations to come;

The Agenda

• Gandhian Life Sharing/ Fellowship of Gandhians

• Establishing Caste/Religious Harmony

• Establishing Civil Sovereignty

• Experience of Gandhian Spirit in Social Responsibilities

• Popularizing Gandhian Pragmatism

• Promoting non-violence as a state and civil policy

• Commemorating Gandhian Ethics

• Establishing Civil Wisdom/ Jurisprudence

AppealLet'us carry forward the Samagam declarations & outcomes among the people as well as to percolate the spirit among the

youngsters & the forthcoming generation

iZý aRâ Vûeê KùVûe I _\à_eò ùKûck Social service that savours of patronage is not service3



Report on Two-Day's National Meet of Gandhians

GANDHI SAMAGAM(for peace, harmony & social justice)

To imbibe Gandhian ideals among the youth and general masses through sharing experiences of

Gandhians from their life style and dedication towards Gandhism, a two days Gandhi Samagam - 2012 was

organized in Joint collaboration of Vinoba Seva Pratisthan (VSP) Odisha & Gandhi Smriti & Darshan Samiti th th(GSDS), New Delhi on 11 -12 September, 2012 at Jayadev Bhawan, Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

A reception committee was formed to organize this programme at a National level. Shri A.V. Swamy, M.P.

(RS.) was the Chairman of the Committee, whereas the other members including freedom fighter and Ex MP, Shri

Bhabani Charan Pattanaik, Advisor to election commission of India and President of VSP Dr. Bhagaban Prakash,

eminent Gandhian scholar Dr. Ratan Das. Gandhian worker Padmashree Tulashi Munda and Manoj Jena,

Secretary V.S.P were the members.

A preliminary preparatory meeting was convened to streamline the preparation and the following agenda have

been selected for the program and list a of eminent Gandhians was prepared for the presentation of their paper

on the following topics.

Day-I

? Peaceful co-existence & social progress.

? Gandhi & Globalization.

? Role of Youth for social change.

? Increasing attraction towards Gandhian Philosophy abroad.

? Bhoodan & Gramdan in the context of sustainable livelihood.

? Gandhi on Human rights & Social Justice.Day-II

? Sarvoday life & work.

? Transparency in Governance : Challenges before Govt. & Civil Society.

? Women empowerment : Then & Now.

? Ahimsa & Satyagrah – as tool for social transformation.

? Today's consumerism Vs self sufficient economy.

? Resolving problems through Gandhian methods.

? Gandhi and Mass Media.

? Gandhian Concept of Education in present context.

? Gandhi & sustainable ecology.Day I : 11.09.2012

INAUGURAL SESSION :

The program was inaugurated by Shri A.V.Swamy, MP, Prof. Ramji Singh, Ex. MP Dr. Lavanam,

eminent Gandhian Scholar, Shri Bhabani Charan Pattnaik, Freedom Fighter and Ex-MP and Prof. V.

Sudhir Chandra Reddy, Managing Trustee of Shri Bhoodan Ramchandra Reddy Memorial Trust at 10.30 thA.M on 11 September, 2012. Initially Gandhiji's favorite song “Vaisnab Janato Tene Kahiye” played by

chorus group and garlanding with lightening the candle before the photo of Gandhiji & Vinobaji.

Initiating the inaugural session, Dr. Bhagbanprakash presided the meeting and said that the Gandhian value is the

iZýûMâj ùjCQò iZý @^êi§û^e GK @aZcòZ _âùPÁû iZýKê ùLûRòaû _ûAñ GK iõKÌ @ûagýK Zûjû jó iZýûMâj4



way to save the society from the dire consequences of present style of living of the people as

well as the current system of western education. Shri Manoj Jena, the General Secretary of

VSP announced the detailed aims & objectives of the two days program as follows…?To create a platform of people and institutions having common thoughts and views for a collective living with peace, harmony and universal brotherhood;?To endeavour to revive, promote, spread and reinforce

Gandhian values of truth, non-violence, self reliance, swadeshi and sustainable development; and

?To endeavour to infuse the spirit of Gandhi deep into the prevailing social, cultural, economic and political life of the society we live in;

?Create Awareness among participants and a pulse among the general public ston the relevance of Mahatma Gandhi in the 21 century

?Development of a plan of action to implement as well as carry forward Bapu's principles, ideas and constructive activities to inspire the generations to come; The guests of the inaugural session had expressed their concern on the present form of social existence with equality to human & nature. Currently, the greed is overriding the settled form of the nature and human behavior is totally micro, which is against the Indian culture and integrity. Tranquility completely disappeared from the way of living. Hence, this is high time to live life of Gandhian way to save the planet. The guests presented their views on Gandhi and Vinoba in the Present Context. Dr. Lavanam expressed concern over the increasing expenditure on arms and ammunition by the

developing countries, stressed more attention on basic

necessities of poor. The government should remove poverty, he

suggested.

Prof. V. Sudhir Chandra Reddy, the son of first Bhoodan

donor Ramachandra Reddy expressed his happiness to be the

part of this great Samagam and said the mission of Vinobajee remains unfulfilled as

still thousands of landless people exist in our country. Bhoodan's land is being

encroached by the land mafias. The government must recover the missing lands and

distribute it among the landless.

While Shri AV Swamy expressed his concern over the continuous decrease of the

agricultural land that leads to food crisis in the country, Prof

Ramjee Singh questioned about the illegal acquiring of land by

the industrial houses for their projects and mining which creates anger among the landless.

The government should resolve the issue through non-violence instead of gun violence.

Freedom fighter Bhabani Charan Pattnaik quoted Vinobajee, “Union of heart is the pre-

requisite for peace and non-violence”. The Samagam aims to remind and remember the ideals of Gandhijee and

Vinobajee as he pointed .THEMATIC SESSION

The deliberation session started with the presentation of Prof. Acharya Bhabananda on “

Gandhi & Globalization”. He shared his experience in Hartford University as Professor in

Gandhian education and found that the honesty of Gandhian education mostly attracted

the Globe, the birth day of Gandhiji is accepted by United Nations as the world non-

violence day. Youth should be the torch bearer of Indian heritage of peace and non-violence. Now, the globe is in

search of peace on the lines of Gandhian ideals against the increasing war and terrorism.

Dr. Bhagbanprakash

Shri Manoj Jena

Dr. Lavanam

Prof. Ramji Singh

Prof. Acharya Bhabananda

Shri AV Swamy

Prof. V. Sudhir Chandra Reddy

Bhabani Charan Pattnaik

Independence means voluntary restraints and decipline, voluntary acceptance of the rule of law5



Shri Prafulla Sahoo, Chairman of Center for Youth and Social Development

(CYSD) had enlightened “the role of Youth in social change”. The present scenario

of corruption irritated the youth mass. Each and every sector using youth for their

enrichment. Hence, youth should decide the way beneficial to him or her and his

surrounding society. Gandhian approach may change the youth to be the non-violent

tool for social change. He said that the youth should be thought the ideals of Gandhi

and Vinoba.

Shri Gouranga Chandra Mohapatra, Convener, Bhoodan-Gramdan Samiti of

Sarva Seva Sangha, Wardha expressed his views on “Bhoodan & Gramdan in the

context of sustainable livelihood”. He added that the Bhoodan & Gramdan is the

product of Gandhian Philosophy of trusteeship and implementation of the policy as

written in “Hind Swaraj” by Gandhijee.

Since the initiation of Bhoodan, Shri Mohapatra shared a statistical data from 1842 to

1951 about the landlessness and availability of agriculture land for livelihood. After taking over the power of East

India Company in 1858 by British, the exploitation on collection of Land Revenue & different taxes increased and

the poor farmers left their land and live on agriculture labour. The number of landless people was 50 million out of

300 millions of population in India in 1951.

Therefore, livelihood of 50 million people in the Independent India had created an economic gap between the

Land Lord & Landless. Some radical groups have been united and tried to dispossessed the Land Lords from

their land by bloody violence. It was the great massacre of morning of the Independence. Vinoba took the risk to

resolve the issue through non-violence and called for donation of Land. Mr. Ramachandra Reddy of Panchampalli in the Telengana region of Andhra Pradesh had donated 100

acres of land. From that date Vinobajee trekked India for 14 years & covered eight thousand miles in each Block

of the country for collection of land.

In India 4.8 million acres of land have been collected and 50% of land still pending for distribution due to non-co-

operation of field revenue authorities of State Governments which is now creating opportunity for the land mafias,

builders and corporate houses as well as big projects promoters of the country.

Meanwhile, the poverty is simultaneously increased in comparison with development. But sustainable living of

the poverty stricken people is absolute and accountability of the welfare Government. Bhoodan land is only meant

for the poor and landless people to ensure the sustainable livelihood of marginal masses in the country. Since, the

Bhoodan movement is now in moribund stage, so, promotion of economic condition of the landless people could

not be enhanced. Now the time is to promote Bhoodan ideals.The program ended with summing-up comments offered by the Chair.

Day II: 12.09.2012The program started at 10.00 AM. The sarvodaya workers assembled from the various parts of the State

had shared their experience regarding Sarvoday life & work. More than 20 participants have taken part in this

discussion and the feelings they shared was very heart touching.

Discussion session was started at 11.15 a.m. Former Union Minister & President of Lok Nayak Jayaprakash

International Institute of Education & Research Shri Braja Kishore Tripathy delivered his speech on

Transparency in Governance: challenges before Government & Civil Society.

Shri Prafulla Sahoo

Gouranga Ch. Mohapatra

^úZò ^ò¡ðûeYùe _eòa•ð^ NUò_ûùe, Kò«ê ù^÷ZòKZûùe ^êùjñ You must be the change you want to see in the world6



He disclosed more pockets where the Government and Civil Society is lacking their

accountability on the transparency of Governance. Role to this effect by the conscious

citizen, who are not coming under any civil society fold had been requested to

continue their work in the rural & urban pockets to sensitize both Government &

Civil Society. The Gandhian people may shoulder this responsibility to enhance the

trust in the society on honesty & transparency. Identifying the challenges before

Government, he said that the transparency may check the corruption from the Government sector, the head of the

department should honestly try to maintain transparency in the activities so far carried out in daily routine.

Er. Lalitmohan Pattnaik, working chairman of Odisha Nagarik Samaj pointed out that civil

society is now facing more trouble for the movement against

corruption & claim to maintain transparency in each & every

sector. Hence, this is right time we have to be united & join

hands with such group or Government bodies who have been

working towards this way of action.

Shri Bikram Keshari Berma, Ex-MLA and Chairperson of Odisha Cashew Corporation

emphasized on Non-violence and Satyagraha as weapon against social renaissance.

Gandhijee introduced non-violence in politics. The increasing violence is due to lack of

development in tribal regions he asserted.

Smt. Lopamudra Mohanty, Ex- Chairperson, Odisha State Women Commission,

expressed her views on the topic of women empowerment : Then & Now. She

admired the women self help groups for participating in the different socio-economic

programs launched by Government. The awareness among women has increased but still they have to prove

like Laxmibai. However, she pointed out towards education of Girl Child and

appointment of Women in different Sectors. This is good sign but we have to encourage

them to go forward.

Prof. Kailash Acharya, an eminent economist & the ardent follower of Gandhi & Vinoba

had shared the topic of Today's consumerism vs self sufficient economics.

Prof. Acharya said that the process initiated by Gandhi & Vinoba, which was

multiplied by Dr. Kumarppa in very simplest form to introduce in rural areas. He narrated his experience in

Bhoodan-Gramdan work and the process to live without money in the tribal pockets in the State.

The present economic condition has created challenge for the self sufficient economy. Each and every person

desires to be self sufficient through corruption or by exploiting numbers of people. This is cruelty and not the

way of Gandhi & Vinoba. Equal distribution of Wealth & Trusteeship feelings is now the dream for the citizens. So

we have the accountability and responsibility to introduce the self sufficient economic

behavior & manage to self through this process to challenge present consumerism

and to provide a long lasting economic condition to the society.This Process has to be

introduced in the education system to aware our future citizen about good effect of the

Gandhi-Vinoba economy to save the society from the present materialistic and

inhuman condition.

Braja Kishore Tripathy

Er. Lalitmohan Pattnaik

Lopamudra Mohanty

Kailash Acharya

Sai Prasan

Bikram Keshari Berma

gâc jñò _âKéZ _ê¬ò @^Ü jó \eò\â ùfûKcû^ue bMaû^7



Shri Sai Prasan, an eminent journalist and activist dedicated for the social transformation

had presented his work experiences in resolving various problems in different movement by

using Gandhian methods. He said that Gandhi was the votary of discentralisation of

economy and politics. But, it is unfortunate that in the post-globalisation, the economic and

political power is getting centralised. The small and medium scale industry is in problem and

the big industrial houses are increasingly establishing monopoly in all the sectors. This

is leading to unemployment among youth which is the root cause for the militancy in

society. Similarly, he said, a huge money is being spent in

elections which is keeping away the good able candidates from

elections or entering the state Assemblies or Parliament. The

current day politics is following the formula of `Money begets

power and Power begets money'.

He said that it is the need of the hour for all of us to have self-introspection and follow the

Gandhian idea of decentralisation both in economic and political sphere which will ensure

the development of the backward regions and deprived sections in Odisha and

elsewhere.

VALEDICTION

In the valedictory session, Shri Absar Beuria, IFS (Retd.) Ex-High Commissioner, SRILANKA and Chairman of Sarvoday International, Smt Namrata Chadha, former member, Odisha State Commission for Women, Prof. Radhamohan, eminent Gandhian environmentalist and former information commissioner of Odisha delivered their

speech as guest speakers and eminent social worker Mrs. Krishna Mohanty presided over the session.

Democracy is meaningless in a capitalistic society. The Government should focus on small projects rather than

big, Prof Radhamohan said.

Smt Namrata Chadha emphasized the ethical distribution of Bhoodan land and other natural resources

among the tribal and dalits for restoration of social justice.

Shri Abasar Beuria said that the people's voice becomes meek against the injustice hence violence is increasing in

our society. Presiding over the session Krishana Mohanty expressed her concern about increasing farmers'

suicide and forceful displacement. Land is a medium for a self sufficient society that the

Government must act for the landless, she asserted.The sarvodaya workers from various parts of Odisha who have dedicated their life for

social cause on the path of Gandhi-Vinoba, were felicitated with Gandhi Vinoba Peace

Award by the Guest & distinguished persons .

Dr.Bikash Das, a known human rights advocate and President, Committee for Legal

Aid to Poor (CLAP) had presented the two days sum up with future course of action.

The following points resolved as follow-up action for next one year.

?Regional and district level program will be organized for the young peace workers

?Effort will be taken to initiate dialogue between the Govt. and Maoist to restore peace and harmony.

?Participatory democracy approach will be carried to visualize Gandhiji's Gramswaraj.

?One Gram Panchayat named Rushuda in Bolangir District will be taken to make it a Gandhian model G.P.

?A Sarvodaya Bhawan will be establish in Bhubaneswar to facilitate the Gandhi-Vinoba ideals & activities .

The two days program concluded with the song “ De dee hume azadi bina khadag bina dhal- sabarmati ke santh

tune karadia kamal”.

Krishna Mohanty

Namrata Chadha

Absar Beuria

Prof. Radhamohan

Dr. Bikash Das

Swadeshi is the only doctrine consistent with the law of humanity and love8

Documents

GS INNER 1 · political azadi (independence) from Britain, but rather to gain true swaraj (liberation and self-rule). Gandhi wanted all those who believed in swaraj : (1) to reject